to be panicking over my temp?

[Lieika]

I have a temperature of 40.1. I feel horrific. I also have a 6 week old baby. DH not picking up his sodding phone. Doctors surgery phone engaged (8th in the queue).

Any advice on whether this is a&e worthy or not?

Don't want to turn up and look like a fool...

Have you had some paracetamol?

Try calling 111 and tell them your symptoms, hope you feel better soon, do you have any other signs of infection, also ask them if it's ok to breastfeed if you are.

Do you know why you have a temperature? Ie, sore throat, stomach ache? If you feel very very bad like you're not capable of looking after baby ring 111. Can a relative help by stopping by till you can get in touch with your husband?
Have you taken paracetamol/ibuprofen? X

Personally with a temp of 40 and no other symptoms beyond a fever I wouldn’t panic - my kids both get temps this high and if they’re also feeling grotty I give paracetamol and keep an eye

So if the temp is your only symptom then no it’s not a&e worthy. It’s probably not even gp worthy, you could have the start of a fever/cold/sick bug etc. If you have other symptoms then it really depends on what they are

I took paracetamol earlier. Temp came down to 38.4. Now back at 40.1.

I have no other symptoms other than feeling freezing cold and achey with a banging headache.

@WeSaluteYou I was more concerned that I had a baby 6 weeks ago so worried about infection.. though I'm hopefully wrong!

It sounds like a cold, we’ve all had a particularly grim one over the last couple of weeks.

As it is coming down with paracetamol it shouldn’t be too much of a worry, just make sure you’re taking it regularly and alternate with ibuprofen if you can.

You feel cold because you have a temperature, that's the way the body works unfortunately. As you've just had a baby and have a headache with this I think you should at least call 111. Are you able to drink plenty of fluids.

Take ibuprofen (perfectly safe to take even when breastfeeding) alternate with paracetamol (don’t exceed max dose) If your lochia hasn’t stopped or has started again then get checked by GP just in case. Get well soon!

A high temperature that reacts to paracetamol is absolutely nothing to worry about in an adult. You're ill, probably with a virus. It happens to us all and your temperature increase is your body doing what it is supposed to do. It baffles me that adults even take their temperature when I'll. If I'm under the weather the last thing I reach for is a thermometer.

It you’re breastfeeding, so you think it could be mastitis?

I assume you are breast-feeding. Baby will make antibodies to anything that you are suffering from so there should be no problem there; they are fed via the breast milk.

40 is pretty par for the course with a nasty virus. Hope you will be feeling better soon.

So much bad advice on here...

Op please ring 111 as you rightly say it could be an infection/sepsis and better to safe than sorry.

Are you breastfeeding? Could it be mastitis? I felt absolutely ducking horrendous when I had it, nearly collapsed in a shopping centre.

If it's coming down I wouldn't be overly worried though.

I think you’re on the outside range of infection related to birth at 6 weeks post partum.

As the temp is coming down I’d monitor it for a bit and assume it’s one of the bugs going around - if you start to feel worse then get a gp appointment or go to a walk in. I understand the anxiety but high temp when your body is fighting a cold/bug is normal and 40 isn’t exceedingly high

If breastfeeding you need to be checked for sure. Tbh I would anyway. Mastitis can manifest like that.

I think as you gave birth six weeks ago you should definitely get checked out. Yes a high temp can be nothing but it can also be a sign of sepsis. I wish people wouldn’t tell people to just ignore a temp of 40 - it is such dangerous advice given the limited information given.

I agree with chick, the paracetamol bought your temperature down but it was still high after taking it, do call for medical advice.

My GPhas always said a temp that comes down with paracetamol isn’t too concerning, even in my babies.

If you have any reason to believe it may be sepsis go straight to A&E. Mention sepsis to 111 and they'll call an ambulance.

It hasn’t come down to a normal level. 38.4 is still a pyrexia.

It sounds like a cold, we’ve all had a particularly grim one over the last couple of weeks

A COLD? Jeez, I know Mumsnetters always like to dissuade people from treating anything medical as an emergency, but I personally have never had a temperature that high in my adult life. Neither of my children have ever had a fever that high either. The common cold does not come hand in hand with 40 degree temps.

So yes, OP, I think you need someone to help you with the baby and you need medical advice today.

Ring 111 and get some proper advice. When I had a temperature like that a few weeks after giving birth I was in spesis.

Call 111.
While you're waiting for a call back, call your DH's office, see if you can talk to him or get an urgent message to him, to keep his mobile on him in case you need to call him.

Hope it's nothing serious but you do need 111 and DH at the end of the phone just in case.

40.1 is really high. Call 111. What other symptoms do you have?